Folding coop



(No Model.) 2 Sheets Sheet 1.

W.. CARR & AFEVANYS.

FOLDING COOP No. 405,531. Patented June 18, 1889.

(No Model.)

' 2Sheets-Sheet 2.

W. CARR & A. EVANS. I

FOLDING COOP.

Patented June 18, 18-89.

UNITED STATES PATENT Fries.

\VlLLlAhl CARR AND ALFRED EVANS, OF SEDAN, KANSAS.

FOLDING COOP.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 405,531, dated June 18, 1889.

Application filed February 6, 1889. Serial No. 298,852. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that we, XVILLIAM CARR and ALFRED EVANS, both residents of Sedan, in the county of Chautauqua and State of Kansas, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Folding Coops; and we do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, which will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to folding coops.

The object is to produce a coop which may be folded to occupy but a small space, so as to facilitate its being packed in a compact man ner when it is desired to transport a number of them from one point to another by rail, so as to reduce the cost of shipping them from the place where the fowls are sold back to the producer; furthermore, to produce a cheap, efficient, and durable coop.

To attain the desired objects the invention consists of the folding coop hereinafter described, illustrated in the drawings, and specifically claimed.

Figure 1 is a perspective view of our improved coop, showing the same ready for use. Fig. 2 is a similar view showing the coop ready for shipment. Fig. 3 is a detailview showing the coop spread apart previous to being secured together, as illustrated in Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a detail perspective "iew of the partition for dividing the coop into compartments, and Fig. 5 is a detail view of one of the hinges used to hinge the top to the ends. Figs. 6 and 7 represent detail views, on an enlarged scale, of portions of the coop.

Referring to the drawings, A designates the bottom of the coop; B, the ends, which are hinged to the bottom; 0 C, the top, which is made in two parts; D, the sides,which are also hinged to the bottom, andE the partition. for dividing the coop into compartments.

In order to facilitate a clearer understandin g of the invention, we will describe the different parts separately and under their respective heads, and afterward describe the operation of securing the parts together to form a complete and operative device.

The bottom A maybe made of any suitable material-such as tin or galvanized iron; but for cheapness and lightness wood is preferred.

Each side of the bottom is beveled, as shown at a, as is also the bottom of the sides D, as shown at (Z, so that when the said sides are folded up in the position shown in Fig. 1 a tight joint will be presented, thus preventing any of the refuse in the coop from falling out and fouling the car-floor while the filled coops are being shipped from one point to another.

The ends B may be made solid, as shown, or of metallic netting, and are hinged on their inner sides to the bottom by means of suitable hinges Z), the object for having them in that position being to allow the ends to be folded down when the coop is folded up;

The top, as before stated, is made of two pieces 0 and O, which are hinged to the ends by hinges G, constructed of two flat pieces of metal 9 g, secured together by a rivet 9 As will be seen, the hinges are secured to the edges h of the ends and to the inner faces of the pieces 0, which, in conjunction with the pieces 0, form the frame of the top. The object for having the hinges secured in this manner is that when the top is folded over and rests upon the partition E, the pieces a will be flush with the outer side of the end, thus presenting a neat and finished appearance. A further object in having this peculiar kind of hinge is that the top maybe moved in two directions-that necessary for allowing it to be put together for shipment, as shown in Fig. 1, and that necessary for allowing it to be folded up, as shown in Fig. 2.

The sides D are constructed of a frame consisting of two end pieces (2, the top and bot tom pieces (Z and a central piece d. The two open spaces d" left on each side of the central piece are to be covered with any suitable material,but preferably with metallic netting. Upon the said central piece is secured two cleats d, which form ways in which the partition fits when the device is intact, and which will be described further on.

The partition E, for dividing the coop into compartments, moves in two guides e, secured to the floor. In the center division 6 of the frame is secured a block F, on each end of which is pivoted a cleat f. The ends of the block form shoulders, which are designed to pass through an opening G in the floor when the coop is folded up, so as to bring the cleats f above the plane of the sides and top, as shown in Fig. 2, thereby allowing them to be turned and hold the coop in its folded position.

Having now fully described the different parts of our device, we will proceed to explain the manner in which it is operated.

By referring to Fig. 2 it will be seen that the partition is lying fiat upon the bottom and the top on the partition, the parts being held in that position by means of the cleat f, before referred to. The sides are folded under the bottom and are held by a similar cleat f on block F. Now, should it be desired to put the coop in condition for the reception of the fowls to be shipped, it will only be necessary to turn both of the cleats and thus release the sides, end, and top of the coop. When these parts are to spread apart, as shown in Fig. 3, the partition is raised to a perpendicular position an d the sections forming the top brought over and allowed to rest upon it, and are secured in that position by means of hooks G The sides are then raised and are secured to the ends by means of hooks If on the ends, which engage screw-eyes m on the said sides. The partition is held in position by means of the guides 011 the sides before referred to. After the coop has been emptied it is folded in the manner shown in Fig. 2, which, as will be seen, will occupy only about one-third of the space that it does when opened.

It will readily be seen from the foregoing description that although this device is eX- ceedingly simple of construction it will be found highly efficient and durable in use, and maybe constructed at but a slight expense.

Having thus fully described our invention, what we claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

l. A coop having a bottom provided with an opening, sides hinged to said bottom, ends and top hinged together, a partition carrying a block having shoulders which extend through the opening in the floor, and cleats pivoted to the ends of the shoulders to retain the coop when folded, substantially as described.

:2. A folding coop consisting of a bottom, sides, ends, and top, a partition on said bottom, cleats on the sides in which said partition fits, and a block carried by said partition having cleats for fastening the coop in folded position, substantially in the manner described.

3. In a folding coop, the combination of the bottom, sides, ends, and top, the bottom having an opening therein, the partition on said bottom, the guides on the bottom for said partition, and the block in the partition extending through the bottom and having cleats for securing the coop when folded, substantially in the manner described.

In testimony that we claim the foregoing as our own we have hereunto affixed our signatures in presence of two witnesses.

\VILLIAM CARR. ALFRED EVANS.

Witnesses:

JOHN LoYD, R. H. BRADLEY. 

